Have you ever been a guest on a small radio station and wondered if you’re talking into a vacuum? Or even been invited to participate in an online video chat and you’re not even sure if anyone is listening?
Ever watched a movie where stranded sailors cobbled together a short-wave radio and started sending out distress calls, “Mayday! Mayday!”
What about Cary Grant in the movie Father Goose? At one point, Cary Grant is desperately trying to raised the commander on the other end of the radio.
And then there’s that old saying, “If a tree falls deep in the forest, and nobody is around to hear it, does it still make a sound?”
Well, if an author publishes a book, how does she know if anybody reads it? Is anybody listening? How does she know? Let’s talk about 8 ways authors can estimate if their message is being heard.
Reviews - Authors love reviews. We love reviewers. And we love readers who love reading and love to tell others about the amazing stories they’ve read. Goodreads and Amazon reviews are a mix of reviews from readers who’ve either purchased a copy of your book or been given a copy in exchange for an honest review. Romantic Times, Library Journal, Fresh Fiction, just to name a few, review many of the newest releases. Reviews mean somebody somewhere is getting your book and is reading it. You are being heard.
Interaction on Social Media - We’ve had several posts related to social media here in Seekerville. It’s part of making noise. Make some noise. Let people hear you roar on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, your newsletter, etc.. But just as it can be really irritating when the neighbors party all night long, be aware when you’re becoming too loud, too pushy, or too obnoxious. That’s when it’s time to ask how they’re doing, or take a breather and post some cute cat (or calf) videos! You are your message and your message is being heard when others retweet you, when others share your cute meme, or your latest book news.
Analytics - Social media sites all provide analytics to help you determine if you’re being heard. There’s also Author Central where you can get a bit of a handle on which books are moving, rankings among other authors, etc. If you self-publish a book, or even traditionally publish, those analytics can give you an inkling if people are seeing your name and your book. It’s not perfect, but if you have a special sale or a free book, you can definitely see those spikes in the rankings.
Local Events - Be heard and seen in your community. Schedule book signings at local bookstores. Speak to a book club, a ladies group, a retired teachers’ association. Connect with groups who have your same interests. It’s a great way to be heard, and even though it might not result in huge numbers in sales, every connection counts.
Name Recognition - Which leads us to the next point. Name recognition happens when you have books (print or ebook) in the marketplace. Name recognition happens when you blog, post on social media, write articles and interviews, appear on the radio, attend events, or just go out of your way to be nice to others, your name will become known.
Awards and Contests - Finalling or winning a contest means you’re reaching another aspect of the reading community. Judges love to read, and many of them pass your books on to others.
Reader Response - It’s so exciting to hear from readers. Sometimes they just want to tell authors how much they enjoyed their books. Other times they want to know when the next book is coming out. And sometimes, their emails might not be quite as gushing as we’d like, but they are readers, and they bought your book. With a bit of work and communication, they’re likely to buy your next one.
Sales Numbers - All of the above is wonderful feedback and can give an author an indication of how well they’re being heard, but the final indicator is sales numbers. Sometimes sales numbers might not be as wonderful as we’d like, but we don’t grow a readership overnight. On the flip side, write the best stories you possibly can, and continue to cultivate the first 7 tips on this list, and eventually, your readership will grow.
Good tips, Pam, and helpful to have them all in one place. I'll be pubbed this September, and am dipping the metaphorical toe into the water of getting readers. It is not for the faint of heart.
ReplyDeleteI was intimidated by the thought of social media, a couple of years ago, until I realized it simply meant talking on line to friends I haven't physically met. That changed everything. It's like having a couple of hundred pen pals, remember them?"
It is so rewarding to know writers from all over the country, and even the world, or at least Canada. I'm more likely to pick up a novel in Walmart, a book store or my library if I know the author. That's because, on this site or another one, I've glimpsed a little bit of their heart and know who they are. It's especially gratifying when it's a book they've dissected or discussed on a blog, and I can see how it's actually worked out.
Also admit to a faint tinge of pride when I point to a cover and tell a friend or relative, "I know that person." "No you don't." "Um, yeah, I do."
A catch-up day for me. Many errands, in the sliver of time that is not below zero or snowing furiously. The book I'm shopping around now takes place in New England in winter. Hey, I had to get SOMETHING out of this.
Kathy Bailey
I know what you mean, Kathy!!! I may or may not have accosted people in Walmart and bookstores telling them I know the author personally. Most of the time, from the way they slowly back away, I'm not sure that they believe me! lol
DeleteI learned the awful truth the day my first story was up and available on Amazon. The publisher and I might have been the only ones who knew or cared. Being an author now is like going to a large city high school. You're an unknown until you make friends, expand friendships, join clubs, excel at something unique or at least be fairly competent and reliable! You might catch the eye of an important mentor or invited into the honor society, or get a solo in choir. But you get nowhere without those friendships that keep you going the rest of the time.
ReplyDelete(And you're likely studying late into the night and getting up early to hit team practices)
True, Debra. We have to put ourselves out there and that takes time. Early on, I spoke at several local venues (a book club, ladies aid society, retired teachers association, etc. I didn't sell many books at lot of times, but I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about what readers are looking for. I need to connect with some of those small groups and see if they're interested in having me again.
DeleteBut yes, dabble in different pools and see where your strengths lie, then jump in with both feet.
Pam, this is a great reminder that I need to make time to connect with my readers.
ReplyDeleteI tend to be single focused on writing. Meeting deadlines. Brainstorming the next project.
But what is happening while I have my nose pressed to my computer screen? My readers are hearing crickets.
I needed this kick in the pants today. Thank-you!
Jan, I'm with you 100%. I need to reach out more, too!
DeleteGreat article, Pam! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Good to "see" you in Seekerville this morning.
DeleteThese are excellent points, Pam. Last night my husband mentioned to me that in "older times" before Amazon, an author would have no idea how their sales would be going from quarter to quarter because we had no access to even checking our rankings on such a website. I suppose unless one's agent was tight with one's publisher, an author had very little idea of how they were selling. Connecting with readers takes time and planning and a lot of determination to put yourself "out there" and try different things. So, thank you for the encouragement of this list. Some I'm already doing and some of them I need to get onto.
ReplyDeleteLaurie, it's good to have as much info. as we can, yes?
DeleteWonderful post about putting yourself out there, Pam! I really enjoy seeing authors "be themselves" either in person or on social media. :)
ReplyDeleteSo true, Beth. Learning to come across as friendly and a real person on social media takes practice. I've always said that Seekerville was one of the best things to happen to me... Not only did the blog force met to prepare posts on a regular schedule, it forced me to learn to chat with ease online. That's not something that comes easy to those of us who grew up BI....
DeleteBefore the internet. lol
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI tried to post a 'thumbs-up' emoji, but it didn't really work. :) Seekerville is, indeed, a very special place.
DeleteHi Pam:
ReplyDeleteYou sure seemed to cover the waterfront with your ways to get feedback.
I've already put a hold on "Father Goose" at the library. I don't think I've ever seen it and I'd sure like to now.
I like the idea of a newsletter that actually provides news on a regular basis. Too my author newsletters are just slick ads for their new releases. Nothing really personal. Nothing that is really letter-like.
A newsletter should be folksy and more personal than an ad. Readers should feel like insiders who get the news first hand and who are given some behind the scenes info on the writing of current and future releases. Such letter-like newsletters might even ask readers questions about what they like best and what they would like to see in the future (such as locations).
You might even have a website just for the newsletter subscribers with photos of locations that are in your books. Also photos of museums and historical sites you visited in doing your research. You might even reward your newsletter people with pre-release discounts that the general public do not get.
Strategic Marketing Idea
As a marketing person, I like the idea of writing three to four books a year. This is more doable if you write 200-225 page books. New releases are newsworthy. They justify book tours, book signings and, of course, book reviews.
Each book should be written and structured so that it sells all your other books. Books selling other books can be your best marketing tool. The more books you have out there the better this books-selling-books approach works.
If you must write 400 to 500 page books and write only one a year or year and a half, then it would be a good idea to write a novella between your long novels. Some publishers demand this now and some authors grip about it in their newsletters!
In short, as you said, write the very best books you can, writer great last chapters that make readers want more of your work, and make it very easy for the reader to know what other books you've written and where to get them.
James Patterson says that he edits his books five to six times after they are good enough to publish with the idea of making them better reads. This is why he sells more fiction than anyone else.
It seems that the extra work you put in making your book a better read after it is good enough for the publisher is a big factor in getting top sales.
I'm taking Master Classes in writing and directing and one director told of how he had 10 of the writers of the tv show present at the filming with the idea that the scrip can still be changed at any time if they come up with better laughs and more powerful humor. Some directors do a take with the actors told to convey the scene in their own words just to see if it works better than what the writers wrote in the script.
In business we call this CI or continuous improvement.
BTW: when you were raking wouldn't you have loved to have a walkman and listened to books? How many classics could you have read without having to make the time to read them? I don't think I saw an Allis Charmers tractor as a kid living on farm. Everything was green and John Deere. The bales were rectangles and the high school kids would lift them into the back of the flatbed with hooks like long shore men! No shirts! Those were the days when we walked four miles to get to where the school bus would pick us up! School buses didn't go all the way to your doorsteps back then!
Would you put me on your newsletter?
Vince
Vince, you are going to Father Goose. It's such a fun movie!!! I haven't seen it in a while and would love to see it again soon. Cary Grant is hilarious in it. :)
DeleteI will add you to my newsletter list, Vince, or you can sign up at www. pamhillman.com. I do try to do a few fun things with my newsletter and let my readers know a little about me as a person. The problem comes in trying to decide which 3-4 things to put in as there's so much to tell. :)
Yeah, folks these days have it made with phones and books and music to listen to. Part of my teen years I drove a cab tractor with A/C and a radio. That was pretty cool... in more ways that one.
And I like the idea of CI... we should all strive for Continuous Improvement in every aspect of our lives. Thanks for the reminder, Vince.
I love the contact between other authors and readers. I learned the other day that I have to comment or like a post or Facebook will delete me from the group. Any one know about this. Apparently some new policy with Facebook.
ReplyDeleteReally? I didn't know this! Thanks for sharing, Wilani. I'll have to look into that.
DeleteThanks for the post Pam. As if writing the book isnt hard enough, THEN the author needs to do publicity and have a platform! YIKES. Lee-Ann B
ReplyDeleteYes, our work is far from over when we type The End.
DeleteI loved this, Pam! It's a great list...one I am keeping for future reference. I think it's about community. Helping others brings about blessing for you in the long run. It's all about loving each other and treating others like we want to be treated. And I have to say, the Christian writing and reading community is fantastic at that! :)
ReplyDeleteVery true, Sherrinda. Do Unto Others is still a good motto to live by.
DeleteI am a reader who discovered Seekerville a few years ago and this introduced me to authors that I had never read before. Blogs such as this are very valuable in getting news about new books, the authors behind them and the fun contests that may be out there. It seems unfair that along with writing a book, getting a publisher interested and then waiting for publication that authors have to make sure they are recognized but Marketing seems to be the succeeding factor. Thanks Pam for a great post!
ReplyDeleteUnfair or no, it's a big world out there. There's so much we don't know about... that song that came out 5 years ago and we're just now hearing it.
DeleteA movie.... In a comment above, Vince said he's never seen the movie "Father Goose" and Vince is a very well-read and well-rounded gentlemen. To think he's never seen Father Goose starring Cary Grant might be surprising...
but then I'm reminded of the millions of books, authors, movies, songs, actors, actresses, artists, artwork, foods, and... the list goes on and on ... that I've never heard of. It's understandable that readers aren't always immediately connected to lesser known authors.
Btw, I just checked a couple of "Fifty Most Well-known People in the World" lists and not a single author was included. I know I certainly wasn't. ;)
Great post, Pam! My favorite is the reader response! I love, love, love getting emails and letters!
ReplyDeleteI do, too. It's humbling and exciting to hear from readers, knowing they've read one (or more) of my books.
DeleteGreat post, Pam. Writers write for readers. It's always a joy to hear from them or get letters or reviews. Thanks for reminding us that writing and reading is a two-way street! :)
ReplyDeleteSo true, Debby. Without readers, we might as well be stranded on a deserted island.
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